Entertainment licensing

Businesses that might need a licence

The types of businesses and organisations that need a licence for entertainment might include:

nightclubs

live music venues

cinemas

larger theatres

larger street and open air festivals

larger indoor sporting arena

What you need a licence for

A licence may be required by anyone that:

provides any entertainment between 11pm and 8am

provides amplified live or recorded music to an audience of more than 500 people

provides recorded music to an audience on premises not licensed for the sale or supply of alcohol

puts on a performance of a play or a dance to an audience of more than 500 people, or an indoor sporting event to more than 1,000 spectators

puts on boxing, wrestling and mixed martial arts

screens a film to an audience in public or in private, if those attending are charged for entry and the intention is to make a profit, including raising money for charity. Licensing of entertainment under the Licensing Act 2003 is entirely separate from copyright authorisation to show films in public.